Ence’s biofactory in Navia (Asturias) achieved efficiency results in 2020 that mark new historical records for the plant. A total of 572,565 tonnes of paper pulp left Ence’s shipping facilities over the past year, representing a new record for the biofactory.
It has also been a very outstanding year in renewable energy, reaching sales of 222,845 MWh in the agroforestry biomass boiler and 345,716 MWh in which the lignin present in the wood from which cellulose is extracted is used as fuel. In fact, Ence’s Asturian biofactory is self-sufficient and surplus in energy, making full and sustainable use of its raw material, which makes it a paradigm of the circular economy model.
The Navia biofactory has achieved these results in a period of extraordinary difficulty, marked by the health crisis and between strict security measures to prevent infections and guarantee the health and well-being of the entire human team. In fact, Ence’s activity was declared essential, by supplying cellulose for hygienic and sanitary products and renewable energy, which allowed the continuity of its production throughout the year 2020.
All this has contributed to fully maintaining employment, not only direct employment, but also those jobs related to the forestry chain and logistics, as well as auxiliary and collaborating companies in the industrial field.
This increase in plant efficiency has been achieved thanks to the optimization carried out by Ence’s human team of the latest investments made in the plant. These investments, recorded in 2019 and 2020, have amounted to 163 million euros, of which a quarter goes to environmental improvements.
It is also worth highlighting, and related to efficiency, the improvement in the environmental performance of the plant in 2020, in which remarkable progress has been made. Thus, throughout the year the results of environmental improvement have been consolidated after the implementation of the “Navia 80” project and environmental improvements have been evidenced in the quality of the liquid effluent (which has improved by 37%) and in the reduction emissions (25%), as well as specific water consumption (which has been reduced by 11.6%).
Similarly, last year the plant received the “Zero Waste” recognition awarded by AENOR to those organizations that carry out a more efficient management of their waste and that are capable of recovering it. Thus, the Ence plant in Asturias was added to the one already granted to the company’s biofactory in Pontevedra.
The Navia biofactory is thus consolidated as the one with the highest production within the group. Ence’s cellulose is demanded for its high quality, recognized in the sector as the best in the world, as well as for the flexibility in its production, which allows a greater adaptation to the needs of paper companies.
Ence is an international benchmark in the eco-efficient production of cellulose with the highest environmental standards. Its production is endorsed by the eco-label of the European Union and by the prestigious Nordic Swan eco-label of the Nordic countries.
